Abeokuta

Abeokuta , city (1991 est. pop. 377,000), SW Nigeria. It is the trade center for an agricultural region producing rice, yams, cassava, cotton, fruit, vegetables, and palm products. Manufactures of the city include beer, cement, dyed textiles, and canned foods. There are granite quarries nearby that provide building materials for S Nigeria. Abeokuta was founded in the 1830s by Egba refugees from the Yoruba civil wars.

Abiola, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (b. 24 Aug. 1937, d. 7 July 1998). Nigerian politician Born in Abeokuta of the Yoruba people, he studied at the University of Glasgow (1961–3) before becoming a business manager, advancing to become vice-president of ITT Africa and Middle East, as well as chairperson of ITT Nigeria, 1971–88. He joined the social democratic National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979 and became its chairman in his home state of Ogun. He was chosen to contest the 1993 presidential elections against Babangida. When his victory was clear, the military government annulled the elections and imprisoned him. He died of heart failure days before he was to be released from prison under a compromise negotiated by the UN.